Tag Archive

Want to live healthier, longer, and happier? At no cost? Then follow the advice from Annie Get Your Gun by “doin’ what comes naturally.” The following activities are all free – preservative free, fee-free, carefree! Look to nature and your body’s natural, internal pharmacy to get you across the fields of dreams. And take a look below at the short animoto video I created for you of healthy blue stuff. You’ll feel younger just watching it! If not, play the video backwards. Then go out, laugh, and breathe!

Get Out of Here, Ya Hear?

1.Exercise outside when you can. Getting outdoors to move enhances both your mental and physical health. If you doubt this, ask any dog who ever heard the word “walk time.”

Bark, Breathe, Pose, Run, Repeat (27 times)

A related Fun Fit Fact: People who live near or on coasts tend to be more physically active compared to inland dwellers. Those fortunate to have ocean views (actually any blue water works), also report being happier than people without access to blue spaces. One theory is that gazing at the ocean triggers the brain to release dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin. We post-menopausal women know all about hormones, especially the mood elevating ones, right?

Remember to Laugh; Laugh to Remember

She’s been making me laugh ever since I can remember. That Alexandra!

2. Add humor to your workout. Another great natural life source is laughter. Not only does laughter act as self-produced medicine, but also it is proving to help memory. The stress hormone, cortisol can cause brain damage. Cortisol negatively affects both memory and learning ability, especially in older adults. This raises the question, “can laughter, which reduces stress, therefore improve memory?”

3. Take half breaths for a whole life. Really looking to keep your memory in high drive, and not idle as you age? Then try a special breathing technique just after your humor boost. When you forgot which aisle you parked your car in, or why you entered a room, kick into left nostril breathing. That’s right, just the left! Block or press shut your right nostril and inhale through the left. Exhale. Repeat. 27 times. Let’s hope this works as you have to remember to count as you breathe!

According to researchers, left nostril breathing creates a restful and alert state of mind that activates nerve endings of the parasympathetic system. That is fancy talk for “reducing stress.”

For you smarties and thinkers who are always a step ahead (and that would be all of you who subscribe to our blog), you probably already thought of something. What if you combine all three activities? Run, walk, jog, mosey outdoors with a person who makes you laugh as you count up 27 left nostril breaths. Then get back to us in the comments to report what happened. Join the nature movement; free membership!